Adelaide Strikers 170-5 (20 overs, Ludeman 49, Dean 48, Hodge 37*) beat Melbourne Renegades 143 (15.2 overs, Gayle 56, Head 3-16) by 27 runs.

The Melbourne Renegades fell short in their attempt at reaching the Big Bash semi-finals, after losing by 27 runs to the Adelaide Strikers at Etihad Stadium. 

Going into the game, the Renegades needed a comfortable victory to have any chance of qualifying with run-rate not on their side in the race for a top four spot. 

Instead, the table-topping Strikers will host the Sydney Thunder in Thursday's semi-final, with the Melbourne Stars and Perch Scorchers meeting in the second semi. 

The Melbourne side didn't go down without a fight though, with Chris Gayle giving them hope early on in their chase. The left-hander equalled Yuvraj Singh's T20 record with a 12-ball half-century, but it wasn't to be as their tenure in this year's Big Bash came to an end. 

Renegades bowlers fight back after openers start well

After winning the toss, the Renegades inserted the visitors, who posted 170-5 from their 20 overs. 

Adelaide got off to a relatively fast start with openers Jono Dean and Tim Ludeman putting on 85 for the first wicket before the former fell caught and bowled to Dwayne Bravo for 48, which included four maximums. 

The wicket was the start of a mini collapse, with the Strikers losing four wickets for 22 runs. After being called up for the Australian T20 squad during the day, the in-form Travis Head fell for a duck off the bowling of Chris Tremain and lasted just two balls. 

Alex Ross was next to go for four when he was given out LBW off Xavier Doherty, with Ludeman going soon after off the same bowler for 49 off 41 deliveries. 

Hodge and Lehmann strike late to post daunting total

With a home semi-final assured, the pressure was off the Strikers somewhat and that showed with the way their middle order went around posting a total. 

Captain, Brad Hodge and the hero from their previous victory, Jake Lehmann added 55 in five overs to make it a more than competitive total. 

Hodge hit an unbeaten 37 from 21 balls which included four boundaries, whilst Lehmann hit three fours in his 24 before falling to Nathan Rimmington, as the Strikers set their hosts a winning target of 171. 

Gayle hits astonishing half-century before Head rips apart top order

In reply, the Renegades knew their only chance of reaching the semi-finals was to get off to a flyer, and that's exactly what happened. 

Chris Gayle equalled the fastest half-century in 12 balls, smashing seven maximums early on to give the Renegades hope of chasing down 171 inside 16 overs. 

The big West Indian was hitting the ball to all parts of the ground in an incredible show of power, but unfortunately for Melbourne, wickets tumbled around him. 

His fellow opener Tom Cooper fell for a golden duck to Michael Neser, with Head then accounting for the wickets of Cameron White (6) and Bravo (0). 

Head then all-but ended the hopes of the Renegades, when Gayle hit him straight up in the air, with Ludeman taking the elementary catch to end the Jamaican's innings of 56 from 17 balls. 

Renegades fall short by 27 as Strikers grab seventh win

With Gayle out of the equation, the Strikers bowling attack got on top of their opposition to bowl themselves to their seventh win of the group stage.

Adil Rashid kept up his sensational form with the wicket of Ben McDermott before Cameron Gannon and Rimmington offered some late order resistance with 23 and 26 respectively. 

It was left to Ben Laughlin to collect the final wicket, with Gannon smashing the ball straight to Hodge to bring a curtain down on the Big Bash group stages. 

Semi-final line-up:

Adelaide Strikers - Sydney Thunder at Adelaide Oval, Thursday 21 January, 8.30 AM GMT.

Melbourne Stars - Perth Scorchers at The MCG, Friday 22 January, 8.30 AM GMT.